SEA ISLE CITY — The members of the Sea Isle City Beach Patrol who saved Tara Himmelreich’s life last year were honored during the City Council meeting July 28.
Himmelreich and her husband, Pete, and daughter Megan were in attendance and donated two Lifepak CR2 defibrillators — the same kind of device that saved her life — to the SICBP.
On August 10, 2025, Himmelreich was sunbathing near the dunes on the 48th Street beach and collapsed when she tried to stand. A nearby beachgoer ran to assist her but could not revive Himmelreich, so alerted lifeguards, according to a news release from the city.
Within seconds, Junior Guard Avery Lasky initiated CPR because Himmelreich had no pulse and was not breathing. EMTs arrived within two minutes and implemented a defibrillator. When EMTs resumed CPR, Himmelreich had begun coughing. After the medics had switched the airway from her mouth to her nose, she began talking. Himmelreich was transported to a hospital for further evaluation and medical treatment.
Because of the beach patrol’s immediate response, Himmelreich’s life was saved, according to the release, which noted that several SICBP members furthered their EMT education and received higher-level training because of the incident.
During the meeting, Mayor Len Desiderio presented a plaque to each lifeguard involved: EMT Eric Greensmith, EMT Mike McCormick, EMT Matt Pytel, EMT Tim Quinn, EMT Dan Stearne, Senior Guard Grace Gehman and Lasky.
“I am always amazed by the actions of our lifeguards under conditions of extremely high pressure. For Avery, a 17-year-old rookie, to recall her training and begin CPR without input from her senior guard is incredible,” Sea Isle City Beach Patrol Chief Renny Steele said. “The realization that on Aug. 10, 2025, Sea Isle’s lifeguards made a monumental difference in Tara and her family’s life is what makes this job so rewarding. Her children still have a mother. Her husband still has a wife.”
Visit sicbp.com or call (609) 263-3655 for more information on Sea Isle City’s Beach Patrol.